A biography of the 49-year congressman (17 as Speaker of the House of Representatives) who guided the most important legislation of the 20th century through Congress from the New Deal to the New Frontier and served under eight presidents. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
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A biography of the 49-year congressman (17 as Speaker of the House of Representatives) who guided the most important legislation of the 20th century through Congress from the New Deal to the New Frontier and served under eight presidents. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Read Less
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Seller's Description:
Very good in Good jacket. xi, [1], 554, [10] p. Illustrations. Sources and Notes. Index. Photography Credits. DJ has wear and soiling. Inscribed on the half title by author Bacon, inscription reads For Hesky and Loretta Bernard Old Friends--how can I thank you for all you have done for DB and me over the years? Wishing you all the best, always. Xon Bacon San Antonia April 28, 1987. D.B. Hardeman was an aide to former House Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Tex. ) who became a legend as a mentor in the education of reporters, staff members and political scientists interested in the workings of Capitol Hill. Mr. Hardeman came to Washington in 1956 with plans to write a book on the life and times of Speaker Rayburn, who served as speaker of the House of Representatives for all but four years between 1940 and 1961. Shortly after he began interviewing Rayburn for the book, Rayburn hired him. From 1956, until Rayburn's death in 1961, Mr. Hardeman filled a variety of roles for the speaker. His title was legislative assistant, but his role with Rayburn was that of personal confidant, political adviser, and friend. Following Rayburn's death, Mr. Hardeman spent several years as an administrative assistant to the late Hale Boggs (D-La. ) when Boggs was House Democratic Whip. Donald C(onrad). Bacon American, b. 1935 worked for the Wall Street Journal, NYC, staff writer, 1957-61; Washington Star, Washington, DC, staff writer, 1962-63; Newhouse News Service, Washington, DC, congressional correspondent to White House correspondent, senior correspondent, and columnist, 1962-75; U.S. News and World Report, Washington, 1975-89. Sam Rayburn, (1882-1961), U.S. representative; born in Roane County, Tenn. He worked his way through and taught school while earning his law degree at night. A powerful Democrat in the Texas House (1906--12), he quickly rose to prominence in the U.S. House of Representatives (1913--61) on the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, aided by John Nance Gardner. A Southern populist, he sponsored New Deal legislation including the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to regulate Wall Street. He took special pride in the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. Elected Speaker of the House (1940--61), he was politically more influential in Washington than in Texas. He supported Roosevelt's and Truman's foreign policies, but his and Senator Lyndon Johnson's policy of moderation and compromise during the 1950s alienated liberal Democrats, who backed John Kennedy in 1960. Rayburn aided President Kennedy's legislative package by enlarging the House Rules Committee. From Wikipedia: "Samuel Taliaferro "Sam" Rayburn (January 6, 1882 November 16, 1961) was a Democratic lawmaker from Bonham, Texas, who served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 years, the longest tenure in U.S. history....On September 16, 1940 at the age of 58, and while serving as Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Rayburn became Speaker of the House upon the sudden death of Speaker William Bankhead. Rayburn's career as Speaker was interrupted twice: 1947-1949 and 1953-1955, when Republicans controlled the House. During those periods of Republican rule, Rayburn served the "Democratic Leader" during those interim four years when the office of Speaker was held by the Republican Joseph W. Martin, Jr. of Massachusetts. Himself a protege of Vice President of the United States John Nance Garner, Rayburn was a close friend and mentor of Lyndon B. Johnson and knew Johnson's father Sam from their days in the Texas Legislature. Rayburn was instrumental to LBJ's ascent to power, particularly his unusual and rapid rise to the position of Minority Leader; Johnson had been in the Senate for a mere four years when he assumed the role. Johnson also owed his subsequent elevation to Majority Leader to Rayburn. In shaping legislation, Rayburn preferred working quietly in the background to being in the public spotlight. As Speaker, he won a...
